BOOK REVIEW: A CORNER OF WHITE by JACLYN MORIARTY

Title:  A CORNER OF WHITE
Book One: The Colours of Madeleine Trilogy

Author: JACLYN MORIARTY 

Publisher:  PAN MACMILLAN
Pages: 412
Format:  ARC Paperback from Publisher
Genre:  YA Fantasy
Rating:  4.5 Butterfly Child Stars!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Goodreads Description:

Madeleine Tully lives in Cambridge, England, the World – a city of spires, Isaac Newton and Auntie’s Tea Shop.

Elliot Baranski lives in Bonfire, the Farms, the Kingdom of Cello – where seasons roam, the Butterfly Child sleeps in a glass jar, and bells warn of attacks from dangerous Colours.

They are worlds apart – until a crack opens up between them; a corner of white – the slim seam of a letter.

A mesmerizing story of two worlds; the cracks between them, the science that binds them and the colours that infuse them.

‘Perfectly strange, and absolutely comical and heartfelt ... Jaclyn Moriarty is one of the most original writers we have.’ – Markus Zusak

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MARISSA'S REVIEW:

A crack between two worlds is discovered by two uniquely odd teens...one from each world.  Elliott is from Bonfire - in the Farms region of the Kingdom of Cello; Madeleine currently resides in Cambridge, England (the World).  Madeleine discovers a note in a parking meter and responds - by replying to the letter and slotting it back into the crack of the parking meter!  Elliott is the lucky one to discover Madeleine's response and the two become unique pen-pals.

For Elliott, he knows that the World exists....unfortunately for him, Madeleine has no idea the Kingdom of Cello and it's menacing colours are real and presumes Elliott is a crackpot living out his make believe life through his letters.  But she'll respond anyway to each letter!  What has she got to lose?!

Throughout the story we get to read the letters that go back and forth between the pair. They are enjoyable, humorous at times and become a private insight into each character.  

Minor characters are equally enjoyable and just as quirky.  Two from each world are my favourite:  The Princess Sisters (Jupiter & Ko) in the Kingdom of Cello - flamboyant and spoilt princesses who behave as if everyone is beneath them and from The World, Jack and Belle - THE most quirkiest characters in the book! 

Well, Markus Zusak definitely sums this book up correctly (his quote is above)!  What we have here is a story quirky enough to have me thinking "this is not what I would usually read"....at the same time drawing me in to keep reading.   I sat above both worlds for A Corner of White - watching both stories play out.  I was an observer watching it all unfold before me.

And why not throw into to the humorous side the fact that I read the first two parts in a male/female voice of Will from The Inbetweeners!!!  Yes I know.....bit silly really....but hey - that's what came out from word one!  And I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Jaclyn is great Aussie Author and I will certainly be reading the remainder of The Colours of Madeleine Trilogy when they release.

Check out my interview with author Jaclyn Moriarty HERE !

ENJOY!

MARISSA

INTERVIEW: JACLYN MORIARTY - Author of A CORNER OF WHITE

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

JACLYN MORIARTY

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Jaclyn Moriarty on the release of her new book A Corner of White (Book One: The Colours of Madeleine). A Corner of White is the new YA fantasy novel from Jaclyn and is the first in a series of three. It’s humorous, odd, different and above all – entertaining. My review is HERE!

Firstly, congratulations Jaclyn on the release of A Corner of White. For me it has been one of this year’s most quirky and highly entertaining reads!

Thank you so much!


Reading through your website I was pleased to find listed amongst your favorite music, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and David Byrne! What songs/bands do you associate with A Corner of White as whole or for individual characters?

It sounds like you have good taste in music.  Nice.  For Madeleine, I listened to Arcade Fire, the National or Fanfarlo.  And before I wrote Elliot scenes, I played Beck, Cherry Ghost and, most often, a Vampire Weekend song called Ottoman, from the soundtrack of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. 

Every now and then I listened to different versions of Bach’s Cello Suites, because it seemed the right thing for the Kingdom of Cello.

To be honest, when I read the first two parts of A Corner of White, I had the voice of Will from The Inbetweeners in my head (male and female sounding versions)! I know – a tad different – but combined with your talented and humorous writing, I was well and truly hooked! I guess this added to the uniqueness of the story! To you personally, do any of the characters have a unique voice or characteristic that can be associated with persons in film, TV or real life?

Will from the Inbetweeners.  You are funny.  (So is he.  I wonder if he’ll write the next book for me.)  The characters are mostly from my own head, although Elliot was sort of inspired by a beautiful boy I had a crush on when I was a teenager.  I remember we were sitting next to each other on a bus one day and he was really tired.  ‘Is it ok if I do this?’ he said, and he rested his head on my shoulder.  Was it ok?!  Was he kidding?!  But right away he sat back up and said, kindly and apologetically: ‘You have a bony shoulder.’  

I’ve never forgiven my shoulder.   

Do you have a big release party scheduled? Or is it business as usual – being it’s a school night and all!!?

Well, Tuesdays I have my cello lesson, but then I’m going to have pizza and champagne with the friends who look after my little boy while I’m at the lesson.  As A Corner of White is the first book in a trilogy, I’m planning to have a party to celebrate its release, but I haven’t organised that yet.  And now the book has been released.  So I hope it’s okay to launch a ship that has already sailed.

In the Kingdom of Cello, a colour can come in waves and wreak emotional havoc….a colour can even be aggressive and kill or take hostages!! Does the Kingdom have a handy info sheet that visitors from The World can read and gain important knowledge of what the colours do? If so, can we have a copy….you know….in case we find ourselves a crack big enough to slip in!!

Good question.  I have a twenty-page table that lists different colours and the form and effect that they take.   If you contact the Kingdom of Cello Tourism Board I’m sure they will pop a copy in the mail for you.  

A Corner of White has a stellar cast of interesting, quirky and very enjoyable characters. Who were your top two characters to write into the story and why?

I had a lot of fun writing the Princess sisters’ column and the Twickleham family.  But I also like the Sheriff.

Thanks heaps for taking the time to answer the questions. Congratulations on what will no doubt be another successful book.

Thank you, for being so kind and for asking great questions. 

A CORNER OF WHITE
Book One: The Colours of Madeleine
Publisher: Pan MacMillan Australia


She knew this.
That philematology is the science of kissing.
That Samuel Langhorne Clemens is better
known as Mark Twain.
That, originally, gold comes from the stars.
Madeleine Tully lives in Cambridge, England, the World – a city of spires, Isaac Newton and Auntie's Tea Shop.
Elliot Baranski lives in Bonfire, the Farms, the Kingdom of Cello – where seasons roam, the Butterfly Child sleeps in a glass jar, and bells warn of attacks from dangerous Colours.
They are worlds apart – until a crack opens up between them; a corner of white – the slim seam
of a letter.
Elliot begins to write to Madeleine, the Girl-in-the-World – a most dangerous thing to do for suspected cracks must be reported and closed. But Elliot's father has disappeared and Madeleine's mother is sick.
Can a stranger from another world help to unravel the mysteries in your own? Can Madeleine and Elliot find the missing pieces of themselves before it is too late?
A mesmerising story of two worlds; the cracks between them, the science that binds them and the colours that infuse them.

ENJOY!

MARISSA 

BOOK COVER REVEAL: A CORNER OF WHITE by JACLYN MORIARTY

COVER REVEAL

THE MESMERIZING NEW NOVEL FROM
AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR, 

JACLYN MORIARTY

A CORNER OF WHITE

(The Colours of Madeleine trilogy Book 1)

Published by: Macmillan
Release Date: 18 September, 2012
Format: TPB|ISBN: 9781742611396  (eBook available)

 

 Madeleine Tully lives in Cambridge, England, the World – a city of spires, Isaac Newton and Auntie’s Tea Shop.
Elliot Baranski lives in Bonfire, the Farms, the Kingdom of Cello – where seasons roam, the Butterfly Child sleeps in a glass jar, and bells warn of attacks from dangerous Colours.
They are worlds apart – until a crack opens up between them; a corner of white – the slim seam of a letter.
A mesmerising story of two worlds; the cracks between them, the science that binds them and the colours that infuse them.

 ‘Perfectly strange, and absolutely comical and heartfelt ... Jaclyn Moriarty is one of the
most original writers we have.’ – Markus Zusak

Check out the Jaclyn Moriarty Website

 Jaclyn Moriarty is the author of best-selling novels for young adults and adults, including the 'Ashbury-Brookfield' books. Her first novel, Feeling Sorry for Celia, won the NSW Premier’s Literary Award, and her books have been named Best Books for Young Adults by the American Librarian Association and translated into several languages. A Corner of White is the first in The Colours of Madeleine trilogy. Jaclyn grew up in Sydney, lived in the US, England and Canada, and now lives in Sydney again.

I'll be reading and reviewing it soon!

ENJOY!

MARISSA